Pocono schools scrutinize security after Sandy Hook shootings

In the aftermath of Friday's shooting at Sandy Hook Elementary School, people are asking what could have been done to prevent the ambush—style attack that left 20 children and six adults dead.

CHRISTINA TATU

In the aftermath of Friday's shooting at Sandy Hook Elementary School, people are asking what could have been done to prevent the ambush—style attack that left 20 children and six adults dead.

That answer isn't clear.

The important thing for parents and community members to remember is that, although schools are not immune from violence, it is still probably one of the safest places for children to be, say school safety experts.

"In the immediate aftermath of tragedies like this, people want to search for something and say, 'We should be able to stop this,'" said Harry Wilson, a professor of public affairs with Roanoke College in Salem, Va., and author of the book, "Guns, Gun Control and Elections: The Politics and Policy of Firearms."

"It's a perfectly natural reaction, because everyone has to be sickened by what happened," he said. "One of the things we shouldn't lose sight of is that on the whole, our schools are safe."

Sandy Hook officials had several appropriate strategies in place, including controlling access to campus, adult supervisors on site and locked doors that required all visitors to be buzzed into the school, said Ronald Stephens, executive director of the National School Safety Center.

"We know they had practiced their crisis plan and had a communications network in the midst of a crisis to inform parents and others," he said.

Stephens doesn't believe there is anything else the school could have done to thwart the attacks.

Shooter Adam Lanza forced his way into the school.

"The question to be asked is what should the community do, because each school district is going to have to decide what kind of strategies and programs they want to put in place," Stephens said.

"Most schools are not designed as fortresses to be defended. They are open places of learning that are open to the community," he said.

He recommends parents contact their superintendent or principal to ask about safety measures the school district has in place.

"Ask about the school's crisis plan. Visit the school and see how easy it is for you to just walk into the building. What kind of visitor screening is in place," Stephens said.

Just as schools practice for fire drills, they should also practice what to do in the event of a lockdown situation, said Larry Banaszak, Chief of Police at Otterbein University in Westerville, Ohio.

Banaszak, a former Ohio state highway patrol officer, spent a good portion of his career training state troopers in gun violence survival tactics.

He now provides training sessions for school districts, businesses and government agencies on how to deal with an active shooter.

"We have to understand that bad things like murders can happen in school, and if we understand that reality, we plan for it and train for it, ultimately that should save some lives."

It's important not only to review these strategies with teachers and administrators, but also students.

"The first step is to run away from danger. The second step is to lock the door, barricade yourself in the room, call 911 and gather any weapons you possibly can in case the person enters the room," Banaszak said.

"As a last resort, if someone makes it into the room, everyone picks up something and throws it at the individual's head. It could be a purse, cellphone or books. At the same time, you charge the shooter."

Parents, educators and local police need to be on the same page, "with the understanding that this is another crisis we need to prepare for," Banaszak said.

"One of the biggest mistakes everyone makes is they say, 'It will never happen to me,' so they don't prepare," he said.